Lubricating fluid regulator in torque convertor hydraulic clutch

Abstract

A directional control valve is composed of a cylinder and a spool located therein so as to be slidably shiftable. The cylinder is formed to have a first input port, a second input port and a control port to which hydraulic fluid is supplied from a fluid pump; a first output port for supplying hydraulic fluid for clutch operation to a power-disconnection clutch, and a second output port for supplying hydraulic fluid for lubrication to the clutch. Positioning of the spool is shiftable between a first position wherein the first input port and the first output port are communicated, and a second position wherein the second input port and the second output port are communicated, according to hydraulic pressure via the control port.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A directional control valve for supplying hydraulic fluid via a fluid pump to a power-disconnecting hydraulic clutch which engages and releases an input member and an output member of a torque convertor, comprising: a cylinder having   a fluid inlet and a control port which pass hydraulic fluid in supply from a fluid pump,   a first output port for supplying hydraulic fluid for clutch operation to said hydraulic clutch, and   a second output port for supplying hydraulic fluid for clutch lubrication to said hydraulic clutch; and   a spool slidably disposed within said cylinder, shiftable, according to pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied via said control port, between a first valve position, wherein said fluid inlet and said first output port are communicated, and a second valve position, wherein said fluid inlet and said second output port are communicated.   
     
     
       2. A directional control valve according to claim 1, further comprising an urging member for elastically urging said spool in sliding within said cylinder. 
     
     
       3. A directional control valve according to claim 2, wherein said urging member positions said spool in one of said valve positions wherein hydraulic fluid pressure is not supplied via said control port. 
     
     
       4. A control valve system for supplying hydraulic fluid from a fluid pump to a power-disconnecting hydraulic clutch which engages and releases an input member and an output member of a torque convertor; the control valve system including a pressure control valve having an input port connected to said fluid pump, and a directional control valve connected to said pressure control valve; wherein said directional control valve comprises: a cylinder having a fluid inlet and a control port connected to an output port of said pressure control valve; a first directional control valve output port for supplying hydraulic fluid for clutch operation to a hydraulic clutch, and a second directional control valve output port for supplying hydraulic fluid for clutch lubrication to said hydraulic clutch; and   a spool slidably disposed within said cylinder, shiftable, according to pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied via said control port, between a first valve position, wherein said fluid inlet and said first output port are communicated, and a second valve position, wherein said fluid inlet and said second output port are communicated.   
     
     
       5. A control valve system according to claim 4, further comprising a valve for controlling supply of hydraulic fluid from said pressure control valve to said control port of said directional control valve. 
     
     
       6. A control valve system according to claim 5, wherein said directional control valve further includes an urging member for elastically urging said spool in sliding relationship within said cylinder. 
     
     
       7. A control valve system according to claim 6, wherein positioning of said spool is determined by said urging member to be in one of said valve positions wherein the hydraulic fluid supply control valve shuts off hydraulic fluid supply to said directional control valve; and   said spool is driven by hydraulic fluid pressure into the other of said valve positions wherein said hydraulic fluid supply control valve allows hydraulic fluid supply to said directional control valve.   
     
     
       8. A control valve system according to claim 7, wherein said fluid inlet of said cylinder is divided into a first input port and a second input port; said positioning of said spool being such that wherein said spool is in said first position, said first input port and said first directional control valve output port are communicated, and said second directional control valve output port is not in communication with the first and second input ports; and   wherein said spool is in said second position, said second input port and said second directional control valve output port are communicated, and said first directional control valve output port is not in communication with said first and second input ports.   
     
     
       9. A control valve system according to claim 8, further comprising a fluid passage located between said second directional control valve output port and a clutching portion of said power-disconnecting hydraulic clutch, said fluid passage being formed to include a throttle. 
     
     
       10. In a power transmission coupling transmitting power from an engine to a transmission, including a torque convertor connectable to an input-side rotation member toward said engine and supplied with hydraulic fluid in operation to transmit power, a power-disconnecting clutch for transmitting and disconnecting power between said torque convertor and said transmission, a fluid storage for storing hydraulic fluid for supply to said torque convertor and said power-disconnecting hydraulic clutch, and a fluid pump for pumping out the hydraulic fluid in said fluid storage, a torque convertor clutch fluid regulator for controlling hydraulic fluid flow from said fluid pump in supply of said hydraulic fluid to said torque convertor and said power-disconnecting hydraulic clutch; said fluid regulator comprising: a directional control valve including a cylinder having a fluid inlet and a control port which pass hydraulic fluid in supply from said fluid pump; a first output port for supplying hydraulic fluid for clutch operation to said hydraulic clutch, and a second output port for supplying the hydraulic fluid for lubrication to said hydraulic clutch; and   a spool slidably disposed within said cylinder, shiftable, according to pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied via said control port, between a first valve position, wherein said fluid inlet and said first output port are communicated, and a second valve position, wherein said fluid inlet and said second output port are communicated.   
     
     
       11. A torque convertor clutch fluid regulator according to claim 10, wherein a fluid passage for transmitting hydraulic fluid from said control valve to said torque convertor and said power-disconnecting clutch is formed in a main drive shaft extending from said transmission and connected to said power-disconnecting clutch. 
     
     
       12. A torque convertor clutch fluid regulator according to claim 11, wherein said power-disconnecting clutch comprises: a drive-side member connected to said torque convertor;   a driven-side member for connection to said main drive shaft;   a clutching portion for connecting said drive-side member to, and disconnecting it from, said driven-side member; said clutching portion including a plurality of axially movable plates for engagement with said drive-side member and said driven-side member, and a pressing means for pressing said plurality of plates together; and   an elastic connecting means for elastically connecting said driven-side member and said main drive shaft.   
     
     
       13. A torque convertor clutch fluid regulator according to claim 12, said power transmission coupling further comprising a front cover connected to said input-side rotation member; wherein said torque convertor includes an impeller connected to said front cover and a turbine disposed opposite said impeller;   said drive-side member is fixed to a dorsal surface of said turbine, and said clutching portion is disposed radially outward of said drive-side member; and   said drive-side member is configured to have a wall surface for introducing hydraulic fluid into said clutching portion, supplied for lubrication from said fluid passage to a radially inner portion of said drive-side member.   
     
     
       14. A torque convertor clutch fluid regulator according to claim 13, wherein said drive-side member is composed by a hub; a flange, bearing said wall surface, extending radially outward from said hub and fixed to said dorsal surface of said turbine; and a first cylindrical extension extending axially from a circumferential periphery of said flange;   said driven-side member is a disk-shaped plate having along a circumferential periphery thereof a second cylindrical extension extending axially; and   in the engagement of the plurality of plates with said first cylindrical extension and said second cylindrical extension as the drive-side and driven-side members, said plates are axially movable and cannot rotate relative to the cylindrical extensions.   
     
     
       15. A torque convertor clutch fluid regulator according to claim 14, wherein the first and second cylindrical extensions are formed to have radially penetrating holes. 
     
     
       16. A torque convertor clutch fluid regulator according to claim 15, wherein said hub is formed to have a hole via which hydraulic fluid can flow radially outward; and said wall surface of said flange is formed so as to introduce hydraulic fluid for lubrication in flow from said hole toward a radially inner surface of said second cylindrical extension.   
     
     
       17. A torque convertor clutch fluid regulator according to claim 16, wherein an annular projection extending radially inward is formed along a rim of said second cylindrical extension. 
     
     
       18. A power transmission device according to claim 17, further comprising a housing containing said torque convertor and said power-disconnecting clutch; wherein said fluid storage is disposed in said housing;   said fluid pump is fixed to said housing; and   said control valve is disposed within said housing.